What are the challenges?
Taking inspiration from Silverstone, Suzuka, and Hockenheim, it’s no surprise that COTA is as popular as it is challenging.
But while many of the corners will feel familiar, its most famous turn is 100% original. Featuring a view of Downtown Austin in the distance, Turn 1 is the highest point of the circuit, coming off the back of a 133-foot climb uphill after the start/finish straight. Cars are given a wide berth, allowing them to brake late and choose how they want to take the corner, which promotes overtaking. However, with a steep downhill descent immediately following the corner, drivers go in a little blind, making it easy to make a mistake.
Silverstone and Suzuka were both sampled for the run through Turns 3 to 6, which are akin to the British circuit’s Maggotts/Becketts complex and the Japanese track’s S Curves. Fans may also recognise Turns 12 to 15, which are similar to Hockenheim’s stadium section. Other notable inspirations behind COTA are Istanbul’s Turn 8, Interlagos’s Senna ‘S’ and Österreichring’s Sebring-Auspuff Kurve.
The season so far
Last time out, in Singapore, the team claimed its second successive Constructors’ Championship, clinching the 2025 title with third and fourth place finishes from Lando and Oscar, respectively.
Having dedicated some time to celebrating this achievement at our factory last week, focus has now switched back to the season at hand, with the Drivers’ Championship on the line. As it stands, Oscar is first with 336 points and Lando second with 314, 41 points ahead of third place.
Winning the crown with six rounds remaining – the joint-earliest in F1 history – we have a full quarter of the season to run, including three Sprint events, the first of which takes place this weekend.